Dr. Schonna R. Manning is a phycologist working at the intersection of molecular biology and analytical chemistry whose research examines the dynamics of harmful algal blooms and proliferations. She is also interested in the immense potential of algae in biotechnology for carbon capture, remediation, and the synthesis of diverse bioproducts. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Manning oversees the Omics Facility for the Institute of Environment, an FIU preeminent program. She is committed to advancing algal sciences and works closely with colleagues across the globe in academia, local and federal agencies, and non-profit organizations. Dr. Manning serves on numerous editorial boards and contributes to the international scientific community through her service to the Phycological Society of America and the Algae Biomass Organization, including developing educational curricula for The Algae Foundation. Dr. Manning is currently the Vice President and President-Elect for the  Phycological Society of America.

Katherine was born and raised in NJ and always had a passion for science. During her undergraduate studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, she discovered she could combine her passion for chemistry and lakes and rivers by researching how compounds persist in the environment. After receiving her B.S. in chemistry, she enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the SUNY – College of Environmental Science and Forestry. There she studied freshwater cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae) in the Great Lakes and large lakes in New York state. Her research focused on the production of secondary metabolites produced by toxic and non-toxic species of Microcystis and Dolichospermum/Anabaena and how those metabolites correlated to different nutrient concentrations. She continued her research on secondary metabolites after completing her Ph.D., under the guidance of Dr. Manning at UT-Austin, and expanded her target organisms to microalgae in general. She worked on a range of projects from universal PCR primer development for toxin synthesis genes to isolating sulfated polysaccharides from species of Porphoridium. After a brief hiatus, she’s back working with Dr. Manning, continuing work on HABs in Texas and Florida. Katherine lives in Texas and is an avid New York sports fan, rooting for the Mets, Knicks, Islanders, and Giants. She loves to read, knit, crochet, and cross-stitch and enjoys birding and spending time with her husband and two sons.

Many years ago, Dr. Anna Nesterovich first became fascinated with algae as an undergraduate student. Among the people of the Vepsian Upland, she earned the nickname 'The Girl with a Cat' while collecting samples to assess the biodiversity of freshwater wetland algae. Since then, her interests have expanded to encompass not only the biodiversity and morphology of algae but also the fields of taxonomy, biogeography, and paleoecology of diatoms. Her Ph.D. studies at Iowa State University were dedicated to the latter topic, where she developed a diatom-based quantitative proxy for reconstructing sea ice in the Pacific Arctic region. Over the next three years, she actively participated in numerous biomonitoring projects, collaborating with both freshwater and marine algae from across the United States. Currently, she serves as a postdoctoral researcher at the Manning Lab, tasked with identifying and enumerating algae in Biscayne Bay. 

Kevin Pinto is a recent graduate of Florida International University, working as a research assistant under Dr. Schonna R. Manning. Kevin graduated in the spring of 2023 with a bachelor's in marine biology and intends to continue his studies as a graduate student in the coming year. Outside of the lab, Kevin enjoys teaching music as a guitar and bass instructor. 

Keith Sellers recently graduated from FIU, achieving a B.S. in Marine Biology and a B.A. in Chemistry with a specialization in biochemistry. Originally from Eagle River, Alaska, he is primarily interested in analytical chemistry. Keith is a former NOAA EPPMSI Scholar, during which time he collaborated with NOAA NMFS. He aided in developing a field method for measuring thiamine in salmon eggs. In his free time, he enjoys playing the saxophone. 

Stand by - coming soon!

Meet Yilan Lin, known in the gaming world as Catttsby. Her research passions lie in the realm of diatoms, with a keen focus on unraveling how algae serve as valuable bioindicators. Beyond her scientific pursuits, she finds solace in playing the piano and admiring algal artistry, all while savoring the delights of algae-based cuisine. When it comes to favorite animals, she has a soft spot for emperor penguins, wombats, hamsters, and capybaras. 

Doctoral Student

Florence is a passionate researcher with a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Microbiology. Her undergraduate research focused on the bioactivity activity of plant extracts on environmental organisms. During her Master's pursuit, she investigated the antimicrobial activity of partially purified plant extracts on bacteria from clinical and environmental sources. She is presently interested in employing molecular biology and analytical chemistry to explore natural products from microalgae. As an ardent lover of nature, people, volunteering, and aesthetics, Florence incorporates these passions into her curricular and extracurricular activities.

Doctoral Student

Stand By - Description Coming Soon!

Dr. Afeefa Abdool-Ghany is an environmental engineer working on unraveling the intricacies of the coastal environment. She is interested in uncovering the complex world of bacteria and microbial sources in the coastal expanse. With a particular emphasis on the beach environment, her research has unveiled novel insights into the dynamics of these microorganisms that shape our coastal ecosystems. In her most recent endeavors, Dr. Abdool-Ghany has focused on the study of Sargassum within the beach swash zone. Her work has revealed a crucial connection between seaweed presence and heightened bacterial levels, often leading to beach advisories. She's a dedicated Marvel movie enthusiast, eagerly exploring the cinematic universe of superheroes and their adventures whenever she's not delving into the intricacies of environmental dynamics.

Pedro Perez is currently in his senior year as an undergraduate student. Hailing from Cuba, he holds the distinction of being a first-generation college student. An intriguing tidbit about him: he happens to have a twin sister, although he proclaims that they look nothing alike! Beyond academics, Pedro is fascinated by the aquarium hobby. For fellow fish enthusiasts, feel free to reach out, as he loves to discuss fish, invertebrates, water quality, and related subjects. Pedro's academic focus centers on phycology and coral biology. His fascination with algae stems from his curiosity about the endless capabilities and processes exhibited by these tiny organisms. Finally, he believes that by learning about algae and coral symbiosis we would have a better understanding of how to help these organisms.